Minnesota State Fair 2012 Fine Arts Exhibition

By Mark Christianson

I’m very pleased to announce that my panoramic photograph of the wonderful cloister at Bad Wimpfen, Germany (seen below) has been accepted for the 2012 Fine Arts Exhibition at the Minnesota State Fair! The photo will be on display during the State Fair from August 23–September 3, 2012 in the Fine Arts Building.

The Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition displays works of artists living in Minnesota selected by a jury process from submitted entries. Per the State Fair website, there were 2504 pieces submitted in preparation for the 2011 State Fair and 361 works accepted. Each year it is a great show with many talented artists included, so I am especially proud to be included in this year’s exhibition.

Now, a bit about the photograph and it’s subject. Last year I had the occasion and pleasure to visit Bad Wimpfen, a small town in Southern Germany located along the Neckar River between the cities of Heidelberg and Heilbronn, and the amazing and beautiful old monastery that resides next to the river there. The gothic cloister was built in stages during the 13th through 15th centuries, and lovingly restored during the last century.

In the panorama photograph, digitally stitched together from five photographs, we see the wings of the cloister built in the 14th and 15th centuries. The dark corridors of the cloister are beautifully lit with afternoon light streaming in the open windows to the courtyard. There is here a sense of both enclosure and openness, of shelter and airiness, of light illuminating the darkness, all infused with a contemplative atmosphere.

It was a real pleasure to have a change to spend many hours photographing the cloister and the town over the course of several days. I look forward to seeing it on display at the State Fair, and I invite those of you able to attend this year’s fair to visit the Fine Arts Building and peruse the many and varied work of Minnesota artists to be displayed there.